NSW Growing Regions of Welcome Pilot Program
Monique Lerchner, NSW GROW Backbone Coordinator
The three-year NSW Growing Regions of Welcome (NSW GROW) pilot program aims to strengthen regional community capability to attract and retain newcomers and assist with relocation to the Riverina and Murray areas.
The NSW Coordinator General for Settlement, Professor Peter Shergold says NSW GROW reflects the strong cross-sector relationships across all levels of government, community, and industry to support successful settlement and strong NSW communities.
“This program will address critical workforce needs in regional NSW that would usually be filled through overseas migration.“
“NSW GROW will support coordinated efforts across sectors to create secondary migration linkages between western Sydney and regional NSW and drive sustainable social and economic outcomes for participating regional communities and newcomers alike.”
In western Sydney, a Regional Employment Hub will provide a gateway for interested western Sydney-based newcomers to connect with identified opportunities in the regions.
Backbone coordinators in both locations will support the design and implementation of plans to attract and retain people arriving from western Sydney.
In the Riverina, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina have employed Monique Lerchner in the Backbone Coordinator role.
Building on the past 12 months of work by Faye Anderson (Migrant Economic Partnership Coordinator), Monique will work with Multicultural NSW and the Red Cross to resettle newcomers from Western Sydney into the region to meet the economic and social needs of the local LGAs and communities. While disruptions due to COVID-19 are still occurring Monique will facilitate introductions between local businesses facing staff shortages with local migrants who are already in the region and open to new job opportunities.
Rachel Whiting, the CEO of RDA Riverina says the level of job vacancy advertisements in the Riverina has reached a 10-year high. “We have more jobs than people in the Riverina. NSW GROW is another strategy to contribute to RDA Riverina’s workforce development plan for the region. We know our communities are welcoming of newcomers, and we look forward to working with LGAs like Leeton and Temora Shires to welcome more people and match them with employers’ needs.” Multicultural NSW received $3 million funding from Training Services NSW to deliver the pilot program. For more information about Multicultural NSW, please visit: www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au.